United Kingdom Living room and office
How much does it cost to run a TV?
A modern 55 inch LED TV draws about 80 to 120 watts, a 65 inch OLED around 120 to 200, and a 32 inch set under 50. Five hours a night on a 100 watt TV is 0.5 kWh, a few cents.
A 100 watt TV costs about 2.6p an hour to run in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh. Running it 5 hours a day comes to about 13p a day, £4.01 a month and £48.07 a year.
- Price: Ofgem cap, Oct to Dec 2026
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 0.50 kWh a day, 15 kWh a month, at 26.32 pence per kWh (Great Britain (price cap average)).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
A 100 watt TV costs about 2.6p an hour to run in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh. Running it 5 hours a day comes to about 13p a day, £4.01 a month and £48.07 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 100 watt TV running 5 hours a day. Published typical ratings run from 40 to 200 watts. Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the Ofgem price cap unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026, average for England, Scotland and Wales, paying by Direct Debit. The cap for 1 January to 31 March 2027 is announced in late November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost by wattage and hours at the price cap rate
At 26.32p per kWh, running flat out. Multiply by the share of the time your thermostat keeps the element on.
| Power | 1 hour | 8 hours | 24 hours | A week at 5 hours a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 watt | 1.1p | 8.4p | 25p | 37p |
| 100 watt | 2.6p | 21p | 63p | 92p |
| 200 watt | 5.3p | 42p | £1.26 | £1.84 |
How a TV uses electricity
Brightness is the biggest factor. The "vivid" or shop mode can draw 50% more than a calibrated picture. HDR content pushes the panel to full brightness.
Standby draw is under 1 watt on current sets but a soundbar, streaming box and games console on standby together can add 10 to 20 watts around the clock.
Ways to cut the cost
- Turn down the backlight or use the eco picture mode.
- Switch off the console and soundbar at the wall when not in use.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a TV for 24 hours?
A 100 watt TV for 24 hours is 2.4 kWh, about 43 cents at 18 cents per kWh or 63p at 26.32p per kWh.
Does leaving the TV on standby cost much?
The TV itself, almost nothing. The box of accessories around it can add 100 to 150 kWh a year.
Other living room and office costs
More in the UK
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.